Module II Alankaras

Carnatic Classical Music

3
Alankaras

A
Notes
lankaras literally means ornamentation, where as in music it is the
decorative swara passage sung along with the sapta talas such as Dhruva,
Matya etc. These are popularly known as Sapta Tala Alankaras. Learner
has to concentrate very much to maintain the tala in different speeds along with
the purity of swarasthana and type of passages.
Alankaras are aesthetically composed groups of swara phrases that have been set
to each of the Suladi Sapta Talas.
There are 35 Alankaras in total – 5 alankaras for each of the tala families – Eka,
Rupaka, Triputa, Jhampa, Matya, Dhruva and Ata.
The practise of alankaras gives learners a grip on swarasthanas and tala at the same
tune. Singing alankaras with gamaka at different speeds also helps in raga
understanding.

OBJECTIVES
After practising this lesson, the learner will be able to:
z perform different gati patterns;
z explain the sapta tala system;
z state with perfect rhythm;
z present the swaras in different speeds.
Alankaras
3.1 Chaturasra Jati Dhruva Talam (14 aksharkalas)
Mode of reckoning — 14 0 14 14
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
S; R; G; M; G; R; S; R; G; R; S; R; G; M;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
R; G; M; P; M; G; R; G; M; G; R; G; M; P;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
G; M; P; D; P; M; G; M; P; M; G; M; P; D;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
M; P; D; N; D; P; M; P; D; P; M; P; D; N;
.
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
P; D; N; S; N; D; P; D; N; D; P; D; N; S;
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x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
S; N; D; P; D; N; S; N; D; N; S; N; D; P;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
N; D; P; M; P; D; N; D; P; D; N; D; P; M;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3 Notes
D; P; M; G; M; P; D; P; M; P; D; P; M; G;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
P; M; G; R; G; M; P; M; G; M; P; M; G; R;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3 x 1 2 3
M; G; R; S; R; G; M; G; R; G; M; G; R; S;
3.2 Chaturasra Jati Mathya Talam (10 aksharakalas).
The same should be rendered in second and third speeds.
Mode of reckoning — 14 014
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
S; R; G; R; S; R; S; R; G; M;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
R; G; M; G; R; G; R; G; M; P;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
G; M; P; M; G; M; G; M; P; D;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
M; P; D; P; M; P; M; P; D; N;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
.
P; D; N; D; P; D; P; D; N; S;
x 1 2 3 x v
. . .x 1 2 3
S; N; D; N; S; N; S; N; D; P;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
N; D; P; D; N; D; N; D; P; M;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
D; P; M; P; D; P; D; P; M; G;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
P; M; G; M; P; M; P; M; G; R;
x 1 2 3 x v x 1 2 3
M; G; R; G; M; G; M; G; R; S;

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 Module II Alankaras

Carnatic Classical Music

3.3 Chaturasra Jati Roopaka Talam (6 aksharakalas)
Mode of reckoning — 0 14

x v x 1 2 3
Notes S; R; S; R; G; M;
x v x 1 2 3
R; G; R; G; M; P;
x v x 1 2 3
G; M; G; M; P; D;
x v x 1 2 3
M; P; M; P; D; N;
x v x 1 2 3
.
P; D; P; D; N; S;
x v x 1 2 3
. .
S; N; S; N; D; P;
x v x 1 2 3
N; D; N; D; P; M;
x v x 1 2 3
D; P; D; P; M; G;
x v x 1 2 3
P; M; P; M; G; R;
x v x 1 2 3
M; G; M; G; R; S;

3.4 Misra jati Jhampa Talam (10 aksharakalas)

Mode of reckoning — 17 0
)

x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
S; R; G; S; R; S; R; G; M; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
R; G; M; R; G; R; G; M; P; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
G; M; P; G; M; G; M; P; D; ;;

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Carnatic Classical Music
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
M; P; D; M; P; M; P; D; N; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
P; D; N; P; D; P; D; N; S; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v Notes
S; N; D; S; N; S; N; D; P; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
N; D; P; N; D; N; D; P; M; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
D; P; M; D; P; D; P; M; G; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
P; M; G; P; M; P; M; G; R; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 x x v
M; G; R; M; G; M; G; R; S; ;;

3.5 Tisra jati Triputa talam (7 aksharakalas)

Mode of reckoning — 13 0 0

x 1 2 x v x v
S; R; G; S; R; G; M;
x 1 2 x v x v
R; G; M; R; G; M; P;
x 1 2 x v x v
G; M; P; G; M; P; D;
x 1 2 x v x v
M; P; D; M; P; D; N;
x 1 2 x v x v
P; D; N; P; D; N; S;
x 1 2 x v x v
. .
S; N; D; S; N; D; P;
x 1 2 x v x v
N; D; P; N; D; P; M;
x 1 2 x v x v
D; P; M; D; P; M; G;

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Carnatic Classical Music

x 1 2 x v x v
P; M; G; P; M; G; R;
x 1 2 x v x v
M; G; R; M; G; R; S;

Notes 3.6 Khanda Jati Ata Talan (14 aksharakalas)

Mode of reckoning — 15 15 0 0

x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
S; R; ;; G; ;; S; ;; R; G; ;; M; ;; M; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
R; G; ;; M; ;; R; ;; G; M; ;; P; ;; P; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
G; M; ;; P; ;; G; ;; M; P; ;; D; ;; D; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
M; P; ;; D; ;; M; ;; P; D; ;; N; ;; N; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x. v x. v
P; D; ;; N; ;; P; ;; D; N; ;; S; ;; S; ;;
x. 1 2 3 4 x. 1 2 3 4 x v x v
S; N; ;; D; ;; S; ;; N; D; ;; P; ;; P; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
N; D; ;; P; ;; N; ;; D; P; ;; M; ;; M; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
D; P; ;; M; ;; D; ;; P; M; ;; G; ;; G; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
P; M; ;; G; ;; P; ;; M; G; ;; R; ;; R; ;;
x 1 2 3 4 x 1 2 3 4 x v x v
M; G; ;; R; ;; M; ;; G; R; ;; S; ;; S; ;;

3.7 Chaturasra Jati Eka Talam (4 aksharakalas)

Mode of reckoning. 14
x 1 2 3
S; R; G; M;

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Alankaras Module II
Carnatic Classical Music
x 1 2 3
r; g; m; p;
x 1 2 3
g; m; p; d;
x 1 2 3 Notes
m; p; d; n;
x 1 2 3
p; d; n; s;
x 1 2 3
s; n; d; p;
x 1 2 3
n; d; p; m;
x 1 2 3
d; p; m; g;
x 1 2 3
p; m; g; r;
x 1 2 3
m; g; r; s;

INTEXT QUESTIONS
1. Mention the aksharakalas of chaturasrajati dhruva talam.
2. Name the tala with the anga ‘Anudrutam’
3. Rander the tala having 7 aksharakalas.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
1. Try to practise all the alankaras in other major ragas.
2. Try to practise these alankaras in the audava and shadava ragas.

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